Can China Be an International Leader? from the Guardian [of the UK]
"Although China has become an economic powerhouse, its politicians have so far failed to articulate any larger global vision."
It's been my observation that the Chinese leaders have come to EXPECT to be treated like global leaders -- even though they provide virtually nothing substantive to warrant it. And, surprisingly, I suspect they are quite leery of going much further than where they are right now.
The Comeback Country (Daniel Gross) from Newsweek
"How America pulled itself back from the brink—and why it's destined to stay on top."
The Vice President Bears Good News From Iraq (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
""Politics has finally broken out in Iraq," Biden said in an interview Thursday. "Everyone is in on the deal, and it's real." ... The vice president is always enthusiastic, and Thursday's conversation was no exception, with Biden hitting all the positive "talking points." But he also offered some detailed evidence that Iraqi politicians are converging toward some form of coalition government."
Obama, Democrats Face a Brighter Political Future (Kenneth Walsh) from US News and World Report
"Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi had a credo: "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing." His motto was focused on sports, but it also provides a valuable insight into the way Washington operates, and explains why President Obama's political fortunes are currently on the upswing."
Certainly a minority view in punditsville. Judge for yourself whether Walsh is doing some graveyard whistling or not.
A Banner Year for Wind Power from the New York Times
"The American housing market remained in the doldrums in 2009 and automakers sputtered along, but the wind industry continued to boom, according to a report released Thursday."
When Will This End? (Thomas Cox) from the National Catholic Reporter
"Before it can end, an open, thorough and transparent accounting will have to come forth. This will require unprecedented actions and will have to somehow involve all the Catholic faithful. ... But learning "what," as difficult as that might be, without honest efforts to understand "why," will inevitably fall short."
Right Gears Up for Court Fight, Not Filibuster from Politico
"Conservative judicial activists say they won’t ask their Republican allies to go to the mat over President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens by pressing for the ultimate weapon in a court fight – a filibuster"
Oh -- I get it! Rather than block a nomination for ideological reasons, they'll fight it to scare more voters into believing their BS. I still think the GOP will go to the mat over this nomination.
A Voice of Reason (Bob Herbert) from the New York Times
"One of the reasons so many conservative Republican absurdities became actual U.S. policy was the intellectual veneer slapped upon them by right-wing think tanks and commentators. The grossest nonsense was made to seem plausible to a lot of people — people who wanted to believe in a free lunch."
Who Will the GOP's 2012 Presidential Candidate? from CNN
"A pretty solid look at sixteen prospects. Bottom line: not one of them stands a real chance of seeing the winner's circle."
Survey Says (Matt Bai) from the New York Times
"By expressing fury over Democratic “tyranny” on health care, Republican leaders would seem to be abandoning one of the core principles of small-“r” republicanism. Their argument now rests on the notion of a modern government administered by popular referendums rather than by the union to which we routinely pledge allegiance. It makes sense only in a world where the masses, and not their elected representatives, get to alter the course of the country every day or maybe every hour, depending on how we’re feeling at the moment and how often we are polled."
Fear and Loathing in the Voting Booth (Sharon Begley) from Newsweek
"A new study should raise Democrats' midterm hopes. ... It may seem as if the Democrats' challenge is clear: do everything possible to defuse the anger and ease the anxiety. But the emerging science of the role of emotions in voting suggests a very different conclusion."
New Poll Finds Tea Partiers Have More Racist Attitudes from Newsweek
To me, there is a "no kidding" quality to this headline. However, lately the tea partiers are becoming more savvy (and successful) in countering this story-line. Good to get back to what's really so.
" Supporters say the movement is motivated quite simply by resistance to big government and that the occasional flashes of racism are overhyped by the media and representative of only a small fringe. ... "People who approve of the Tea Party, more than those who don't approve, have more racist attitudes," says Christopher Parker, a University of Washington professor who directed the survey. "And not only that, but more homophobic and xenophobic attitudes."
A Census Sign That the Tea Party is Less Than It Seems (Dana Milbank) from the Washington Post
"The 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast, who made the Republican Party an elephant and the Democratic Party a donkey, would, if he were alive today, have reason to draw the Tea Party as a paper tiger. At least if the Great Census Panic of 2010 is any indication."
Tea Party Followers Would Be Right at Home with George Wallace (Colbert King) from the Washington Post
"I said that Tea Party members, as did the people who flocked to Wallace, view "Washington, D.C." as the Great Satan -- the birthplace of the much-feared "Big Government" that shoves unwanted laws down their throats. I'm not surprised that Tea Party members dislike being linked to Wallacites of the 1960s. But the association is unavoidable. They sing from the same George Wallace hymnal."
In this article, King references THIS earlier column.
Party Time (Howard Fineman) from Newsweek
"Tea Partiers fit into a recent pattern of conservative populist movements."
Republican Mid-term Win 'Nightmare' for Frum from the Financial Times [of London]
"Such an outcome would raise the chances that otherwise “reasonable” and “sensible” potential Republican presidential nominees, such as Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota, would be “Sarah Palinised”. (Ms Palin, the former Alaska governor, is herself a frontrunner for 2012, according to polls.)"
Is America Heading Towards a Dirty War? (Joe Conason) from Salon
"Media-inspired death threats against politicians, and real extremist violence, pose a bloody threat to democracy"
I don't think we're there YET.
BRITISH POLITICS NUGGET!!
General Election 2010: Are We Ready for First-Lady Politics? from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"It may have started with Cherie Blair, but the increasing influence of leaders’ wives has taken another giant step this week. Benedict Brogan considers the implications."
MANNERS NUGGET!!
Obama is Gold Standard of Manners, Says Post (Paul Bedard) from US News and World Report
"In her tiny bedside book, Post writes that manners change over time but that there are some "tried and true gold standards" and that "President Obama offers many examples of how to do this." Here are our faves about Obama from her book:"
There's a great slide show that goes with the article!
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